Donald Sterling Officially Banned For Life & Fined $2.5 Million

The Los Angeles Clippers have been abruptly distracted through the first round of the 2014 NBA playoffs with racial remarks by their owner Donald Sterling made public.

Sterling has been suspended for life — he cannot be involved in operations with the team or the league nor attend games — plus has been fined $2.5 million by the league, and will try to force sale of team, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Tuesday.

“The views expressed by Mr. Sterling are deeply offensive and harmful,” Silver said. “That they came from an NBA owner only heightens the damage and my personal outrage.”

“My message to the Clippers fans is that this league is far bigger than any one owner, any one coach, any one player,” Silver said.